1968 Southern Jumbo Nut Width

[histrings]

Hi all, first time post.

I am the original owner of a 1968 Southern Jumbo that has a 40mm nut width. This seems to be very narrow for an acoustic guitar. Does anyone have any thoughts/ideas why Gibson would do this? I tried reaching out to Gibson but no response. At 5th fret it's 43mm, 8th fret 44mm & 12th fret 50mm.

 

[uncle fester]

I don't have the exact details, and hope those with them will chime in, but at a high level I've come to feel Gibson likes their thin necks, and 1968 seems to be a time when they liked them to the extremes.

Love to see a pic of your guitar though if you get a hankerin'.

[j45nick]

From at least sometime in 1965 to sometime around 1970 (or maybe later) most Gibson necks--acoustic and electric--had a nut width of around 1 9/16", or 39.7mm. I'm not sure exactly what the thinking was, but I suspect other brands of electrics in that same period had narrow necks as well, so it may have been meant to replicate the feel of an electric guitar,

In that same period, Gibson went to low wide frets that were straight out of the electric neck playbook.

These narrow-nut necks can feel cramped for first-position playing for many people, but the differences are less compared to wider-nut guitars the further up the neck you play.

I still have one guitar with the narrow nut, and despite the fact that I love it dearly, I generally play one of my similar guitars  with a slightly wider nut. 

There has been a lot of discussion in this forum over the years on this topic.

Mandolin players think we're a bit crazy on this topic, given the neck width of the typical mandolin.

[zombywoof]

I want to say the nut width went back to  1 11/16" in 1969.  Also a '68 will have wider/heavier bracing than one built just the year before.   

[histrings]

Thanks for you responses. Here's few pics. Originally had a rosewood adjustable saddle

Edited June 9, 2020 by histrings

[E-minor7]

My 1968/69 heavy braced Southern Jumbo has the attractive 11/16 - you can almost see it here.

Looking closer it's also possible to spot the double-ring tulips and the c u s t o m  on the tr-shield. Don't know if these features were added later, but it sure is original stuff. 

[slimt]

I have a 67 SJ ,rounded Guard , belly up bridge with the skinny neck.   The action is just right.  It feels a little cramped to play.  But the dark tone keeps me going back to it. 

[75 Hummingbird]

That`s a real beaut Minor 7 ,  what`s she weight in at ? 

She looks to have 67 appointments .

[E-minor7]

51 minutes ago, 75 Hummingbird said:

That`s a real beaut Minor 7 ,  what`s she weight in at ? 

She looks to have 67 appointments .

 

Thanx - a real piece of candy, isn't it. But no 67er for sure. A long-scale bulky mother all the way - and it has been tempting to get it re-braced. Sccchhyyy, no no no. . 

Edited June 9, 2020 by E-minor7

[75 Hummingbird]

histrings ....your center back brace appears thinner and more refined the Minor 7th`s axe .... That is  a pair of beautiful late 60`s Gibson guitars .

Gibson had a thing in the mid to mid 60`s with thin necks and narrow nuts ....for sure not for everyone . I had a 65 l.g. 1 with that affliction...gone gone gone ! 

[histrings]

Here's a better picture of the back bracing. It never had an orange label, just SJ stamped in blue. There is a "2" stamped over the serial number so I assume this is a factory second?

[j45nick]

2 hours ago, histrings said:

Here's a better picture of the back bracing. It never had an orange label, just SJ stamped in blue. There is a "2" stamped over the serial number so I assume this is a factory second?

Yes, probably a second. those were almost always cosmetic "flaws" which after 50 years are pretty meaningless.

[75 Hummingbird]

Hey ,does the serial number definitely point to a 68 ? I say ,judging by the more refined brace width it could be earlier .

What is the serial if you don`t mind sharing ?

[histrings]

Don't mind at all. Serial# 952590 (with a "2" stamped over it).

[histrings]

On 6/11/2020 at 7:28 PM, 75 Hummingbird said:

Hey ,does the serial number definitely point to a 68 ? I say ,judging by the more refined brace width it could be earlier .

What is the serial if you don`t mind sharing ?

Yup, it's definitely a 68. The pick guard is screwed on and I understand that was the only year Gibson did that.

[75 Hummingbird]

Gibson used screws in 67 to attach pick guard as well i do believe .

[slimt]

On 6/9/2020 at 10:16 AM, histrings said:

Hi all, first time post.

I am the original owner of a 1968 Southern Jumbo that has a 40mm nut width. This seems to be very narrow for an acoustic guitar. Does anyone have any thoughts/ideas why Gibson would do this? I tried reaching out to Gibson but no response. At 5th fret it's 43mm, 8th fret 44mm & 12th fret 50mm.

 

belly up bridge.  White Button Kluson tuners  to me,  it would be a 67.  Not unless its a late 67 going into 68 
 

I have a 67  . But mine has the rounded edge guard. Serial number starts with a zero  

Edited September 17, 2020 by slimt